Seam baster



Aug. 4, 1953 R. HUGHES 2,647,316

SEAM BASTER Filed March 19, 1952- v zi gmbm ROBERT {105/155, BY r x 16 i a I 4 Aug. 4, 1953 R. HUGHES 2,647,316

SEAM BASTER Filed March 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

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WWII/[Wm 1N VEN TOR. R 085/? T HUGHES A T TORNE) Patented Aug. 4, 1953 OFFICE SEAM EASTER 1 Robert Hughes, Woodside, N. Y. Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,391

3 Claims. 1

Generically, the invention relates to a seam baster.

Heretofore basting a scam in a garment has been accomplished in one of several ways. For example, it has been done by sewing the two layers of fabric together by spaced and. relatively loose stitches-then the superposed layers of fabric are run through the sewing machine to sew the seam along the line of the loose stitches, and the latter pulled out after sewing. This was a more or less hit or miss method, the operator relying on eye to sew the fabric along the desired line.

Another method employed the pinning of the layers of fabric at spaced intervals-the pins inserted at right angles to the line along which the seam would be stitched as the present day sewing machine is equipped to sew over the pins without disturbance of the sewing operation. This pinning was also subject to inherent drawbacks, i. e., the fingers of the worker would be frequently stuck by the pins. It was also hit or miss unless a ruler were used each time a pin was inserted.

I have devised a seam baster which has for one of its objects the provision of a device which may be employed to accurately and expeditiously baste seams without the risk of sticking the fingers, and which will measure the line along which the seam is to be stitched with exactitude.

Another object is a seam baster which will hold the superposed layers of cloth while the line of the seam is being sewn by successive pinning of the fabric together.

Another object is the provision of a seam baster which can be easily and economically manufactured f readily available materials, for example-plastics or other man-made materials having the desired rigidity. These and other objects will be apparent after a perusal of the specification and drawings.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a pair of cooperating and oppositely disposed clamping jaws having fixed at their inner terminal ends a pair of gripping members adaptable to grip superposed layers of cloth, with longitudinally disposed bifurcations in the jaws adapted to receive and guide a pin through the crimped portions of the layer of cloth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the seam baster shown in use.

Figure 2 is a cross-section along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the seam baster.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View of the same modification, through line 6-43 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, of another modification.

Figure 8-a cross-section along lines 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a modification used in upholstering.

Figure 10a cross-section of Figure9 through lines HJ'I0.

Figure 11a top plan view of the seam baster shown in use.

With reference to the drawings, numeral 5 denotes the seam baster generally-,- comprising jaws 6 and i, each having a longitudinally disposed channel therethrough, as at 8 and 9, said channel provided for facile insertion of spring Iii, which exerts a clamping action on members 6 and l. Cooperating recess II and nubs l2 prevent displacement of jaws 6 and 1 when the baster is used.

Integral with jaws 6, l and oppositely disposed thereto are handles l2 and I 4 which can be grasped manually for manipulation of the seam baster 5.

On the inner, confronting opposing face s of jaws 6, l are formed respectively transversely disposed tooth I 5 adapted to nest opposing tooth it when the handles [3, I4 are not manually closed, and the baster is in gripping position, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3.

Teeth l5 and I 6 are bifurcated as at l1, l8, so that when the baster is used, for example, in Figure 1, a pin, as indicated by the letter P, can be inserted transversely through the closed jaws and pin superposed layers of cloth together.

Along the opposite edges of jaw l, which is preferably wider than jaw 1, I provide measurement indicia l9, enabling both rightand lefthanded persons to use the seam baster.

In use, as illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the operator, home user, or other user, clamps the laws 6, l on opposite sides of the layers of the cloth along which the desired seam is to be basted inwardly of the edges the measured distance, and thrusts the pin through end of the baster so that it pierces the layers of cloth as best shown in Figure 3. This operation is repeated at spaced intervals until the seam is the desired distance. The baster is characterized by ease of operation, there are no parts which can conceivably become inoperable and the seam is basted without danger of pricking the fingers, or any hit or miss measurements. The seam can then be sewn on the machine following the line at the point of entrance or exit of the pins through the cloth.

The modification illustrated on Figures 9 and 10 discloses a seam baster being adaptable for use in upbolstering, with the iaws'e, lhaving the cooperating teeth- 20; 2, l1: bifurcated transversely to permit the pin to be thrust into the side of the baster rather than into the end. The much;- fication depicted in Figures 5 and 6 shows multipronged bifurcated teeth 22, 23 in contra-dis tinction to the arcuate-like teeth l5,- l6r,shown-,-. in; Figures 1, 2, 3. The further modification of Figures 7 and 8 shows another form of cooperating teeth 23, 2 5, which may be employed.

In conclusion, the seam baster is a boon to dressmakersas the present day teaching advises the use of'pinning instead'of'basting withstitches since most of the newer sewing machinesare equipped'to sew over-pins and-"anewfooting can be purchased forthe older machines-.,

Preserve the'righttomake-such changes or modifications as may come within the scopeof the appended-claims.

I claim:

1. A seam baster' for clamping upon superime posed layers of cloth, comprisinga pairof clamping jaws, springhinged to' eachother at their medial portionsand provided with handles ,D0sitioned at the ends thereof opposite the jaws for manual manipulatiomone of the jaws, havingpa tooth on its innerface atthe outerend th'ereof, said tooth beingbiiurcated and provided with a transverse, dome shaped reces with the bifurcations; positioned-;lengthwise of-thej aws and in each oi-the Oppositeends, theotherj aw also having a bifnrcated tooth; on" its, inner face at the outerend thereof? suclrtooth having -a trans: verse groove facing the bifurcationsofthe first mentioned'toothand said second mentioned tooth being-complementally dome shaped to-be received; by the recesspf the other tooth, the depth of'the recessand-bifurcations in -the ,first ,named' tooth. and the height of the second named tooth and the-depth of-"the transverse groove b'eing sufiicient that when the seam baster is clamped upon 4 super-imposed layers of cloth, a pin may be received and thrust lengthwise of the jaw through the layers of cloth held between the teeth guided by the mating bifurcations and grooves.

2. A seam baster as described in claim 1 wherein one jaw is of uniform greater width than the other and measurement indicia are provided along the extending edges, of thee-jaw of. greater width whereby the depthbf' theseam tube basted may be measured upon clamping the seam baster upon superposed layers of cloth.

3. A seam baster for clamping upon superposed layers of cloth comprising a pair of clamping jaws, spring: hinged to each other at their medial portions and provided with handles positioned at the ends-thereof; opposite the jaws for manual manipulation, one of the jaws having a tooth on its inner face at the outer end thereof, said tooth being bifurcated and provided with a longitudinally extending domeshaped recess-with the bifurcations positioned crosswise of the jaws-and inpeach of its opposite ends, the other-jawalso havingabiiurcated toothon its inner iace:at the outer end thereof, said tooth-having a longitudi'na'lly extending groove mating the bifurcations; of thefirst mentionedtooth and said second men: tinned tooth being complementally-dome shaped to'be receivedby the'recess' of theother tooth, the depth of i the recess and, bifurcationin the firstnamed tooth and the-height of-the-secondnamed tooth and'the depth of the transverse groove de ing suficient, so that when theseam baster-is clamped, upon superposed layers of 1 cloth; abill may be received-and thrust lengthwiseofthejaw through the teeth and throughthelayers of cloth andheld between the teeth; the pin guided 'by the mating bifurcations and'grooves.

ROBERTI-IUGHES:

Refierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date;

1,112,651 Pearse- Oct; 6,.1914 1,917 9,789 Barrett; Noy; 6,11934%- 2,4{3 6;319- rthwin A-ug: 3',-:, 1948 2502,23? Stewart Mar.z28, 1960.1 

